CAU celebrates 2nd convocation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 01, 2011:
The Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal celebrated its second convocation at the sports ground of the College of Agriculture at Iroisemba today.
The function was graced by MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP as chief guest and Chancellor of the university Dr HK Jain as the functional president.
During the convocation ceremony today, 532 Undergraduates and 55 Post Graduates were conferred with Bachelors and Masters Degrees.
These included graduates from the faculties of Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Horticulture, Fisheries, Home Science and Agricultural Engineering.
First rank holders at Bachelors and Masters levels in different faculties were awarded with the university's gold medals.
Giving the convocation address, Prof MS Swaminathan remarked that CAU Imphal is serving as a centre of excellence in teaching, research and extending education in the fields of crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, agro-forestry and agri-business.
He also congratulated the outgoing alumni on their academic performance and social commitment.
The Northeastern region is both a mega biodiversity area as well as a hot-spot for genetic erosion.
The forests harbour 8000 out of the 15,000 species of flowering plants occurring in the country.
Out of 1300 species of orchids reported from India, the Northeast has the highest concentration with about 700 species.
The Northeast is also home to 63 species of bamboo out of 136 found in India but 25 species found in the region fall under rare and endangered category, Prof Swaminathan stated.
He asserted that all scientific departments should spent at least ten per cent of their budget in the North East region.
He also expressed serious concerns over ecological problems caused by deforestation and exploitative mining.
He called upon the faculties of CAU Imphal and its alumni to play a catalytic role and shape the future of farming and farmers by harnessing the best in frontier science and by blending it with traditional wisdom and ecological prudence.
Earlier giving the welcome address together with a report, CAU Imphal Vice-Chancellor SN Puri stated that the convocation would be a landmark in the history of the university because of the presence of renowned agricultural scientist of international repute Prof MS Swaminathan.
The university has under its umbrella, College of Agriculture at Imphal, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry at Aizawl, College of Fisheries at Lembucherra in Tripura, College of Horticulture and Forestry at Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh), College of Home Science, Tura (Meghalaya), College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology at Ranipool, Sikkim and the College of Post Graduate Studies, Barapani, Meghalaya.
In addition to these degree colleges, the university has also established three KVKs, once each Andro in Manipur, Selesih in Mizoram and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, Dr SN Puri informed the gathering.
Based on the performance of students in ICAR Junior Fellowship Examination, CAU Imphal is ranked at sixth position in the country, he said.
In addition to internally funded research projects, CAU Imphal is undertaking 74 externally funded research projects out of which 41 projects are funded by ICAR while 33 projects are funded by different funding agencies namely DBT, DST, DAC, ICMR etc.
Talking about the achievements of research projects undertaken by CAU, the Vice Chancellor claimed that accelerated fermented process of ngari (known as shidal in Tripura) with reduced total maturation period and increased production per year without any infrastructural inputs for production has been standardised by the scientists of College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura.
Isolation of micro-organisms responsible for fermentation, packaging and storage are being studied to upgrade the technology for improvement of product quality.
Taking into account of the rich orchid bio-resources in the North East region, the College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology has successfully developed packaging system for cut flowers of orchid which can be kept up to 24 days without affecting the flower quality.
This may open a new avenue for creating rural employment and orchids of the region may reach various markets in different parts of the country, Dr Puri exuded.
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